Compare towns
Madison vs Bristol vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Madison | Bristol | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
3,273Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Madison and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dunbarton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Newfound Area School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.